What does the research on consumer habits, conducted by Klarna, show?
Around 1 in 5 Greek consumers say they have fallen victim to an online shopping scam during the festive season, according to a global survey of consumer habits carried out by Klarna - the AI-powered payment and shopping service - in partnership with research firm Nepa.
As stated in the announcement, according to the survey and a related question, 18% of Greek consumers said that they have suffered from scams in online purchases during festive periods in the past, with the age group with the highest percentage being 18-26 (26%).
At the same time, 19% of consumers worldwide responded positively, showing that the risk of online fraud is evident, especially during periods of high shopping traffic, such as the sales season.
"With the start of the winter sales, online shopping traffic is expected to increase. Consumers must be cautious when shopping online as there is a risk of online scam from suspicious stores," noted the head of Klarna in Greece, Ilias Pitsavos.
On this occasion, Klarna suggests that consumers pay attention to the following points to have safe online purchases:
- Excessively high discounts. Online stores that offer very steep discounts (especially on well-known brands) may be a sign of fraud, and users should be especially wary of very low prices.
- The name and content of the fake shops. A common feature of fake shops is the use of website names that resemble well-known brands but have slight variations. If the website name does not match the products the store offers, this could indicate a fake store. In addition, another sign of an inauthentic store is mistakes (spelling, typos, incorrect phrases) in the texts and content of the website.
- Payment methods. Suspicious online stores can sometimes be identified by the payment methods they offer or by those that are not available. These stores often prefer an upfront payment, making it harder for shoppers to get their money back. On the other hand, payment methods such as direct debit or purchases through Klarna are not accepted, mainly because the latter provides additional protection to the buyer. By shopping through Klarna, the user can have an additional level of security when shopping online, which protects them from suspicious stores.
- Unclear refund policies. A reputable store will provide clear instructions on how product returns are made and what the consumer should do if they are unhappy with the purchase. In contrast, fake stores often have refund policies that are difficult to understand or find on the website or may not even exist.
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